"Learning Outside the Classroom" Experiences & Featured Speakers

8/14-16, Monday-Wednesday - In-service for faculty and staff from 9 AM - 1 PM each day. Students and mentors will offer no-charge, on-site babysitting, and lunch is provided each day.

8/17, Thursday - First day of the 2017-2018 school year -- University School's 11th year! Orientation activities for all students today and Friday. These are valuable days to focus on our philosophies and expectations, and students and teachers will also have time for icebreakers and more to begin building and deepening relationships with each other.

8/21, Monday – NO SCHOOL - We have NASA vendor-approved eclipse glasses for every student and faculty/staff member, and we will distribute them on Friday, 8/18. Students are encouraged to enjoy this special experience safely and learn a lot!

8/22, Tuesday – Regular classes begin

8/23, Wednesday – orientation for Learning Outside the Classroom and some additional Leadership and Life Skill activities. All students will also learn practical skills for personal safety from instructors from Charleston Krav Maga.

8/25, Friday – Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM. Adult and Family Gathering at BurgerFi during Mentor Night.

8/29, Tuesday – Back to School Open House in Hibben’s Sanctuary (6:00 PM)

8/30, Wednesday – LOTC - All students have another session to learn practical skills for personal safety from instructors from Charleston Krav Maga. MS/US students will begin Red Cross CPR/First Aid/AED training. Students will also have a session with Russell Horres, long-time friend of USL’s, about career exploration. Part one focuses on process - how do I determine which career is best for me? Part two is specific to the health care professions and preparatory to job shadowing at in these fields (esp. connecting to our annual field trip there in December).

9/4, Monday – University School will be closed in honor of the Labor Day holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, 9/5.

9/13, Wednesday – LOTC - We'll be open as normal, and it is a scheduled LOTC (Learning Outside the Classroom) day. Our cookie dough arrived safely, and we are ready to bake cookies! We will clean up the campus from debris related to Hurricane Irma. Students will also make cookies, deliver them, and clean up the kitchen. This much-loved annual tradition allows students to gain practice with the responsibility inherent to LOTCs, meet our neighbors around Coleman Blvd. and Mt. Pleasant, and spread some joy! For more info about the day's activities, please see the separate school email or the posting on the L&L page on Moodle.

9/20-22, Wednesday-Friday – Intermediate School trip for the Barrier Island Environmental Education Program at Seabrook Island.

9/20, Wednesday – LOTC - MS & USl students will travel to the Center for Birds of Prey in Awendaw for a tour and flight demonstrations.

9/25, Monday – Parent Coffee with Jason Kreutner (2-3 PM)

9/26, Tuesday – No Uniform Day

9/27, Wednesday – (A) Middle and Upper School students will kayak Shem Creek with guides from Coastal Expeditions, and the IS will explore Shem Creek and the new phases of Shem Creek Park. (B) This day is set aside as an opportunity for parent & teacher conferences. Please remember that they can be arranged at any point during the year. (C)Chess Club (All Grades, 3:15). (D) OPTIONAL FAMILY LOTC AND VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - At 4 PM (and it will last until 6:00 or 6:30 - so come when you can), we will help the Hibben UMC community unload and arrange the pumpkins on the lawn facing Coleman Blvd. Afterwards enjoy a free pizza dinner in the gym! Please bring a dark t-shirt to wear because the pumpkins are dirty (straight out of the patch)! This is a great annual tradition!

9/28, Thursday – (A) Novel Club with Sara Peck (MS & US, 3:15).

9/29, Friday – (A) Middle and Upper School students will enjoy a 1:00 PM performance by the Mayhem Poets at the Gaillard Center. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression." (B) Photography Club with Jaime Zollars (5th-12th grades, 3:15). (C) Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM. Adult and Family Gathering at a nearby restaurant during Mentor Night.

10/4, Wednesday – (A) HOSTED PERFORMANCE - University School will host Pacific Islands Dance Arts of the Carolinas for a performance of hula dancing and traditional accompanying music at 10 AM in the gym. It is appropriate for all ages and lasts about 50-60 minutes. Guests will include our friends from Sweetgrass Assisted Living Village, Hibben UMC Preschool, Moultrie Middle School, Christ Our King-Stella Maris School, Windwood Farm Home for Boys, Charleston-area homeschool families, and other groups from the community. (B)Chess Club (All Grades, 3:15).

10/5, Thursday – (A) Novel Club with Sara Peck (MS & US, 3:15). (B) University School will be at the High School Fair at Mason Prep School from 6:30-8:00 PM. Mr. Kreutner and some of our Upper School students will represent USL. Interested 7th and 8th graders and their families can attend to explore area high schools beyond University School's Upper School.

10/9, Monday – Special Learning Outside the Classroom experience for members of the Upper School and Faculty -- "Behind the Scenes" tour of the American College of Building Arts at 6:00 PM.

10/10, Tuesday – SCISA High School Quiz Bowl regional at USL.

10/11, Wednesday – (A) LOTC -In the AM, PSAT administration. All other students took part in a Challenge Island STEAM activity with Cristan Lawrie. In the afternoon, all students will take part in exercises to learn more about the upcoming elections that we will be exit polling on Tues., 11/7. (B)Chess Club (All Grades, 3:15).

10/15, Sunday – On Sunday, October 15, we'll have a game booth and concession stand at the Mt. Pleasant Children's Day Festival at Park West from noon-5:00 PM.

10/18, Wednesday – (A) End of the First Quarter (B) LOTC - This month marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation. We will explore two houses of faith and their practitioners to discover more about this critical event and its impact. In the morning, we will visit St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Charleston to learn more about Martin Luther, this Christian denomination, its history, and beliefs. In the afternoon, we will visit Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church on Sullivan's Island to learn more about the Catholic Church and hear some Mass elements in Latin (all of our 3rd-8th graders take Latin).

10/20, Friday – There will be no school for a faculty in-service day from 9:00-noon. USL students will offer complimentary babysitting for faculty members' children and lunch will be provided.

10/21, Saturday – Family Service Opportunity - Beach Sweep on the Isle of Palms. Come join our team led by IS/MS Science & Math Teacher Beth Donoghue. Meet at the IOP Exchange Club (201 Palm Blvd.) at 9 AM and finish at 11/11:30 AM. Gloves needed. Please let Ms. Donoghue know if you are interested. The Island Eye News spotlighted our efforts last year ("University School Students, Faculty, And Alumni Participate In Beach Sweep") in the October 10, 2016, issue.

10/23, Monday – USL Community Pizza Dinner and Slideshow Presentation about our learning adventures in the First Quarter (5:45-7:00 PM).

10/27, Friday – Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a Halloween-themed evening that includes a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM.

10/31, Tuesday -It is an annual tradition for students and faculty to "dress up" for Halloween. This is optional. Please just make sure your costume is Hibben Preschool-appropriate.

+++++++++++ Below is still being updated for 2017-2018. Please see the "Calendar" page for all major dates for 2017-2018.

11/2, Wednesday – LOTC - We will travel to the Gibbes Art Museum for two tours (with interactive activities) and lunch in the courtyard. All students will learn about the elements and characteristics of portraiture. Intermediate School students will also learn about Charleston's story as told through art from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. MS & US students will compare and contrast works that embody characteristics of Neoclassicism, Realism, Romanticism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, and more. We are excited to explore the newly-renovated Museum and see the special exhibition of the Guggenheim Collection!

11/3, Thursday – (A) Parent Coffee - Please join Jason Kreutner and Amy Frain, Director of Family Engagement, from 7:45-8:45 AM for an informal chat around the table about all that is USL-related. (B) SCISA Heads' Fall Conference.

10/31, Monday - 11/4, Friday - Students and parents will receive skill wheels, narrative comments, and, for the MS/US, grades. Students will get printed copies, and parents will receive PDFs electronically. At USL, we believe that our emphasis on skills helps our students learn and grow efficiently. Skill Wheels use numerical ratings to chart out how well students perform in approximately thirty areas that are vital to personal success as an individual and within a group setting. They provide critical insight for one to use in improving oneself. Using a spreadsheet, students then average the numbers for each skill, sort them, and analyze them. This includes determining their top skills and the ones that are their weakest. This process concludes by writing a reflection and answering questions about the skills and their narrative comments for Leadership & Life Skills class on Moodle, and this includes tracking the changes in their skills over time (and how they succeed and stumble as they go after their goals). There are several model reflections posted, and I'll also talk with the IS about current older students and their reflections from their time in the IS. These activities allow the students, especially the younger ones, to see that their role models have struggled and made vast progress in their experiences at University School. Knowing this helps students accept and learn from constructive criticism, and this is an important characteristic that we focus on at University School.

On November 8, 2016, as we do every year on Election Day, students administered exit polls to voters. We focused on President and Vice President, Congressional races, some local races including the Charleston County School Board, and the Charleston County transportation and green space sales tax referendum. Each student canvassed voters at two demographically different precincts, and we visited 26 total voting sites (24 in Charleston County and 2 in Berkeley County). Students then compiled the information in order to predict the outcomes using our exit poll results. Our 2016 efforts were spotlighted in one of the evening's lead articles on the Post and Courier ("Exit polls show Clinton wins Charleston County") and WCBD Channel 2 profiled our civics and exit polling program ("Kids conduct Lowcountry exit polls") on their evening broadcast. On November 10, Post and Courier reporter Paul Bowers gave a comprehensive look at our exit polling ("Student exit pollsters saw the election unfold up close"). On November 13, Robert Behre of the Post and Courier showcased the agenda-setting role of our exit polling by citing the results of an opinion question we posed to voters in Mt. Pleasant about full-time or part mayor and another about the idea of single-member districts for Town Council ("Mount Pleasant closer to a single-member district vote"). On November 16, Charlie Morrison of the Daniel Island news focused on our efforts at precincts on Daniel Island and shared the story of each member of our group ("The Polling Prodigies"). Click here for the results of our 2016 exit polling and predictions!

11/9, Wednesday - LOTC - Rescheduled from 10/10. We will visit Middleton Place in West Ashley. It is one of the three major plantations that are adjacent to each other on Highway 61 (Magnolia Plantation and Drayton Hall are the others). This is in line with our effort to visit a different plantation each year (recent LOTCs include Magnolia Plantation, Mount Pleasant Plantation in Andrews, Hampton Plantation in McClellanville, etc.). We will also review yesterday's Election results.

11/10, Thursday - SCISA State High School Chess Meet.

November 2016, we received the results of our 2015-2016 school year audit from the accounting firm of Glaser and Company. USL has its business-side in good order and carries no debt. Although financial measurements will never be a true indicator of the School’s success, some are very important for the long-term health and viability of the school. One of these is how much of every dollar the School spends that goes to supporting its mission. In the case of University School for 2015-2016, $0.90 of every dollar spent went back to supporting the mission of the School. For our peer schools, the average range is $.68-75.

11/11, Friday - (A) University School MS & US students will host a YALLFest author in the afternoon for an on-campus symposium. (B) In honor of Veterans Day, a group of students will tour the visiting USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) at the Columbus Street Terminal. Thanks to our friends from the Charleston Navy League for making this opportunity possible.

11/12, Saturday - Optional Family LOTC - YALLFest - Charleston's Young Adult Book Festival (420 King Street from 10 AM - 6 PM). YALLFest is a Young Adult Literature Festival founded and based in Charleston. USL is friends with Jonathan Sanchez, the owner of Blue Bicycle Books and the driving force behind YALLFest. USL's own MS & US English teacher, Sara Peck, is also one of the organizers! Traditionally a large contingent of University School's students attend YALLFest on their own on Saturday. Pleasure reading is to be cherished, and it is terrific that our culture celebrates outside reading. Thanks to our teachers, students, and parents for valuing reading!

11/14, Monday - rescheduled from 10/5 because of Hurricane Matthew - Middle and Upper School students will enjoy a performance of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by The WarehouseTheatre at the Gaillard Center. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression."

11/17, Thursday - (A)Morning Open House: Experience USL from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. - If you have a student in 3rd-12th grade who is smart, curious, and kind, University School of the Lowcountry could be an ideal place for him or her to learn and grow. We hope you'll join us on Thursday, November 17 at 7:30 a.m. for coffee, conversation, and a chance to briefly immerse yourself in the student experience at University School of the Lowcountry. At the Open House, you'll have the chance to observe our school-wide Morning Meeting, where we focus on discussing current events. We'll follow that up with a time for you to ask questions about our experience-based learning, individualized academics, leadership & life skills focus, or anything else you might want to know more about. There will even be time for a quick tour if you'd like to see more of our learning environment. We look forward to meeting you and showcasing how at USL, the world is our classroom! Please RSVP to Judy Hubbard or (843) 884-0902 if you plan to attend. (B) Support USL - Family Meal Cornbread Stuffed Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli (serves 4-6). Order from Judy Hubbard Wednesday, 11/16 for $25. Take home at car-pool pick-up today.

11/18, Friday – LOTC - University School students, faculty, parents, alumni, and alumni parents took part in the Day of Caring service projects at twelve sites across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties through the Trident United Way in the Lowcountry. This year we served at Midland Park Primary, Pinehurst Elementary, Jane Edwards Elementary, International Primate Protection League, South Santee Senior and Community Center, Fresh Future Farm, Footlight Players, Whitesville Elementary, Sweetgrass Assisted Living Village, Chicora Elementary, Windwood Farm Home for Boys, and the Dorchester County Library. Our relationship with some of these organizations extends back to the founding of University School, and it is neat to support and learn about these schools and non-profits in the greater-Charleston area. This was our eighth consecutive year of participating in the Day of Caring, and we contributed 500+ hours of service to our community. Click here for the 2016 slideshow of our day!

11/23-25, Wednesday-Friday – University School will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Classes will resume on Monday, November 28.

11/29, Tuesday – (A) Annual Family Potluck Dinner and Gathering at James Island County Park Stono Shelter (including the Holiday Festival of Lights and the opportunity to see the Greeting Card our Middle School students made). Students will depart by bus at the end of school, and dinner is at 5:45. A separate email about food sign up, etc. will be sent by the Social Committee. (B) SCISA High School Quiz Bowl regional at USL. We were Region Champs in 2015-2016! Rescheduled from 10/11 because of Hurricane Matthew.

12/1, Thursday – (A) - HOSTED PERFORMANCE - University School will host Skateboard Science for a performance of at 10 AM in the gym. It is appropriate for all ages and lasts about 50-60 minutes. Guests will include our friends from Sweetgrass Assisted Living Village, Hibben UMC Preschool, Moultrie Middle School, Christ Our King-Stella Maris School, Charleston-area homeschool families, and other groups from the community. (B) Support USL - Family Meal TBD (serves 4-6). Order from Judy Hubbard Wednesday, 11/16 for $25. Take home at car-pool pick-up today.

12/7, Wednesday – LOTC- Medical University of South Carolina - It is a December tradition to visit MUSC. In 2015, students took part in several activities to learn about Pediatric Cardiology, Interventional Neuroimaging, Meducare (medical helicopter transportation), and Telehealth (allowing rural schools and other healthcare providers to consult with MUSC physicians using the latest technology). As is customary, the day ended with our visiting and delivering holiday cards to patients at the Hollings Cancer Institute. Click here for a slideshow of our day!

12/12, Monday – Open House on 12/12 from 6:00-7:30 P.M. If you have a student in 3rd-12th grade who is smart, curious, and kind, University School of the Lowcountry could be an ideal place for them to learn and grow. We hope you'll join us on Monday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. for refreshments, conversation, and a chance to learn more about University School of the Lowcountry. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at USL’s campus (690 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant), and interested families are welcome to drop by and learn more. There will be a formal presentation from 6:15-7 p.m., and there will be time beforehand and afterward for you to ask questions about our experience-based learning, individualized academics, leadership & life skills focus, or anything else you might want to know more about. There will even be time for a quick tour if you'd like to see more of our learning environment. We look forward to meeting you and showcasing how at USL, the world is our classroom! Please RSVP to Judy Hubbard or (843) 884-0902 if you plan to attend.

12/14, Wednesday - regular schedule because of Friday's LOTC

12/16, Friday - (A) LOTC - As is customary, we will have our annual Winter Faiths/Holidays Interdisciplinary Day on the last day of the semester. We will learn about holidays and how they are celebrated by various faith and ethnic groups. In 2015 we visited KKBE synagogue and St. Michael's Church in downtown Charleston. This year Talim Lessane from the College of Charleston will teach us more about Kwanzaa, which is celebrated on December 26-January 1. In the mornign, we will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in downtown Charleston. After lunch at a downtown park, students will then tour the Central Mosque of Charleston to learn more about Islam. Please enjoy the 2015 slideshow from this day (B) Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM. The evening includes the annual showing of Home Alone. We also ask that each student bring a few durable food items that we will donate to the Lowcountry Food Bank and Holy Trinity AME Church. This is an annual tradition to support the Food Bank and the food outreach efforts of HT AME. (C) End of Second Quarter and First Semester.

1/4, Wednesday - 1/9 Monday – The Midde School trip this year was to Alabama. Click the link on each day to read recaps and see pictures from that day. Day One (Scottsboro - Scottsboro Boys Museum and Unclaimed Baggage Center); Day Two (Huntsville and Muscle Shoals - US Space and Rocket Center and Alabama Music Hall of Fame); Day Three (Tuscumbia and Florence - Helen Keller Birthplace and Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright's Rosenbaum House, W.C. Handy Museum); Day Four (Monroeville and Selma - Old Monroe County Courthose / Harper Lee & Truman Capote, National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and Edmund Pettus Bridge); Day Five (Montgomery and Auburn; capital and civil rights tour, tour of Auburn University); Day Six (Tuskegee - Tuskegee University tour and NPS sites, Tuskee Airmen National Historic Site). Each year's MS trip is distinct, and prior years have been to Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Eastern-Tennessee & Western North Carolina, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, and Columbia. On January 6, 2017, The Jackson County (Alabama) Daily Sentinel newspaper featured the The Middle School's visit to the Scottsboro Boys Museum as a front page story ("Learning History" page one and page three).

1/11, Wednesday - The Intermediate School will travel to the South Carolina Aquarium for learning activities and a behind-the-scenes exploration of the turtle rescue hospital.

1/13-17, Friday-Tuesday – University School will be closed on Friday, 1/13 and Monday, 1/16 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Students will not have classes because of faculty in-service on Tuesday, 1/17 (lunch and babysitting of faculty children provided by USL students). Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 18.

1/17, Tuesday – SCISA High School State Math Meet in Sumter.

In 2015-2016 , we won Second Place Team at the South Carolina Independent School Association High School Math Meet! We are proud of all of the participating students -- Anne Adragna, Thomas Boyle, Allison Horan, Allison Li, Sandy Otap -- and our Upper School Math teachers, Mrs. Brockman and Mrs. Elmore! As our current highest grade is 11th, this is an amazing accomplishment -- including a top 3 individual high scorer! This is our second year of participating in this competition, and we’ve now placed Second and Fourth. For the Middle School, we have participated for the last three years, and we’ve now placed First, Second, and First. This is also quite a testament to our Math program at University School, including the strong foundation that is established in the Intermediate and Middle Schools with Mrs. Brockman, Mrs. Lawrie, Ms. Elmore, Ms. Donoghue, and Mrs. Koches. Congratulations to the teachers and the students!

1/18, Wednesday – no LOTC - special schedule of classes for all divisions.

1/24, Tuesday -Intermediate and Middle School students will enjoy a performance of "The Science of Magic" by Bill Blagg at the Gaillard Center. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression."

1/25, Wednesday - (A) LOTC - Relationship Building for all; Upper School - financial literacy exploration of for-profit colleges, credit, and pay day and title loan companies. (B) - Teacher & Parent Conference Opportunity. They can also be scheduled at any other time of the year.

1/27, Friday - Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM.

February, weekday – College Counseling session for our Upper School students and their families (6-7 PM). Both members of our College Counseling team will oversee the session. Roger Smith, our Director of College Counseling, and Don Burkard, recently-retired from 25+ years at the College of Charleston -- most recently the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Planning, comprise a talented team with experience and insights on both sides of the process. Mr. Smith meets throughout the year with all of the Upper School students. Mr. Burkard currently works with USL Upper School students in their junior and senior years. They both help our students look ahead to the next transition and with life planning, and they enable us to provide a strong and comprehensive college counseling program. They will make a presentation, share information, and will be happy to answer any questions about high school to college, etc.

In early-February, 2017, the results for the Scholastic Art & Writing competition for the Southeast Region were revealed. This competition is for 7-12th graders, and this year our 7th-12th graders entered 100+ works of fiction, nonfiction, humor, personal memoir, and poetry and received an amazing 59 awards! 79% of our students were honored. 12 Gold Keys were won, and these pieces will move on to the national level. Typically the number of submissions in the region numbers in the tens of thousands and for the country is 300,000+. For some context, please know it is our practice and belief to have all students take part in this competition. University School is not a single discipline school (i.e. our main focus is not just the arts, or writing, or STEM). Instead, we want our students to learn from amazing teachers and to be challenged in a wide array of subjects. Combined with all of the experiential learning we do through our LOTC program, our students become well-rounded academically, socially, and emotionally to the highest order. We also love to test ourselves and hold ourselves accountable by having our students lead tours, encounter the public and all sorts of people through LOTCs, take part in national assessments, and participate in academic competitions. We are not sequestered on campus, but we are a national leader in exploring the greater world. So, our setting the bar high for all of our students and competing in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition is a natural thing for us! Our talented and driven group of learners have been inspired and guided to become better and more confident writers by their devoted teachers, especially Middle & Upper School English teacher Sara Peck -- success that has been recognized by the Scholastic Writing Awards!

2/2, Thursday - Parent Coffee - Please join Jason Kreutner and Amy Frain, Director of Family Engagement, from 7:45-8:45 AM for an informal chat around the table about all that is USL-related.

2/8, Wednesday - (A) SCISA Middle School Quiz Bowl regional competition. Congratulations, Region Champs! We have been Region Champions 3x in the last four years ('13-'14, '14-'15, and '16-'17) and State Runners-Up in 2014-2015! (B) Intermediate School students will visit and explore the Old Slave Mart Museum and then enjoy lunch in a downtown park. Curated and for years managed by friend-of-USL and Lowcountry-native Nichole Green, the Museum tells important stories powerfully and with clarity. A few years ago, Green joined the effort to create the newest Smithsonian museum, the National Museum for African American History and Culture. Middle and Upper School students will enjoy a 10:30 AM performance by the Dance Theatre of Harlem at the Gaillard Center and then have lunch downtown. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression." (C) Orders for the 10th Anniversary Sweatshirts are due today!

2/13, Monday – Parent Coffee - Please join Jason Kreutner and Amy Frain, Director of Family Engagement, from 2-3 PM for an informal chat around the table about all that is USL-related.

2/15, Wednesday – classes because the weekly field trip is on Friday.

2/17, Friday - LOTC - we will make our annual trip to Marion Square in downtown Charleston for the first day of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Flight demonstrations by the Center for Birds of Prey, specialty breeds of dogs, various forms of wildlife art, local foods, and the presence of government and non-profit experts on the environment and wildlife are the highlights of this experience. We will also explore the College of Charleston's Mace Brown Natural History Museum. Please enjoy this recap and pictures of the day!

2/20, Monday - University School will be closed in observation of the Presidents' Day Holiday. Classes resume on Tuesday, 2/21.

2/21, Tuesday - SCISA Middle School State Quiz Bowl Championship in Columbia. Our Middle School Quiz Bowl team won 2nd place at the State Championship today in Columbia! The competition began a few weeks ago with 36 teams in nine regions, and the region winners met today in three groupings. We won our semi-final matches and then persevered through the finals to the Championship Game. It was a thrilling and close game against Cardinal Newman, and we came up short by 25! All of the teams represented their schools with dignity, and our thanks to Cardinal Newman and SCISA for hosting the competition. We had a great time! Congratulations to mentor Anna Misciagna and team members Charlotte Adragna, Bailey Chave, Kessler Kreutner-Eady, Caitlin Parkman, Conor Seng, and Leo Vaglienti. In our 4th year of fielding a Middle School team, we have won our region 3x and been State Runners-up 2x!

2/22, Wednesday - classes today instead of an LOTC because of the short week for observing the Presidents' Day Holiday.

2/24, Friday - Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Open House - Monday, February 27 at 6 PM - If you have a student in 3rd-12th grade who is smart, curious, and kind, University School of the Lowcountry could be an ideal place for them to learn and grow. We hope you'll join us on Monday, February 27 for refreshments, conversation, and a chance to learn more about University School of the Lowcountry.

2/27, Monday -All University School students will enjoy a performance of "I Have a Dream" by the Virginia Repertory at the Gaillard Center. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression."

Early-March, 2017 - announcement of results for the 2016-2017 Scholastic Art & Writing competition for national recognition. This competition is for 7-12th graders.

In early-March, 2016, four USL students were named Scholastic Art and Writing national award winners, and University School won 4 of the 50 national awards for writing that students in South Carolina received! We had 17 regional Gold Key winners, and they proceeded to the national competition. National medalists represent the top 1% of submissions to the 2016 Scholastic Awards. This competition is for 7-12th graders, and this year our 7th-11th graders entered 120 works of fiction, nonfiction, personal memoir, and poetry and received an amazing 94 awards at the regional level! 84% of our students were honored, and over 90% of our 8th graders garnered an award for writing in 7th or 8th grade. Typically the number of submissions in the region numbers in the tens of thousands and for the country is 300,000+. University School has four national medalists (attached picture with MS/US Writing Teacher Sara Peck): Anne Adragna (11th) - National Silver Key for her poem "The Grass 524 Miles Away"Hannah Godsill (7th) - National Gold Key for her poem "Bullet Stains"Daniel Kalus (8th) - National Gold Key for his short story "Three Views on the Same Matter"Allison Li (8th) - National Gold Key for her poem "As the Months Drag On"

All of March, Wednesdays -Students in grades 3-8 will take sections of the Stanford Achievement test on Wednesdays in March. Paired with field trips, this allows us to stay on our regular class schedule and keeps the testing in proper perspective. Unlike the SC public schools, using a nationally-normed standardized test allows for insights and comparisons for each student based on a national pool and not just comparisons within South Carolina (SC Ready).

3/1, Wednesday – LOTC - (A)First thing in the morning, we will take our All-School photo and individual re-takes with Ring Photography. (B) Students will also take a few sections of the Stanford Achievement Test.

3/2, Thursday – no uniform day.

3/8, Wednesday - LOTC - Students will take a few sections of the Stanford Achievement Test.

3/10, Friday - End of the Third Quarter

3/13, Monday -Intermediate and Middle School students will enjoy a performance of Doktor Kaboom at the Gaillard Center. University School students attend 3-4 cultural performances each year at the Gaillard Center, Dock Street Theatre, and more. What distinguishes USL is how students are taught to be grateful, courteous, empathetic, and curious, and this behavior is on display in these public forums. As noted by Sterling DeVries, Director of Education at the Gaillard Center: "Your kids blow away our staff here! Out of the thousands of students that come through, University School stands out. Your children are respectful, well-spoken, kind, and leave a wonderful impression."

3/15, Wednesday - LOTC - Students who have completed their job shadows will present their experience and field questions from the students and staff, and students will also take a few sections of the Stanford Achievement Test.

In mid-March 2017, Senior Anne Adragna won a Silver Medal with Distinction for her Writing Portfolio in the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards national competition! She is one of only 15 students to earn this award, and this includes a $1000 scholarship and an invitation to the award ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City in June! With the guidance and inspiration of Middle & Upper School English teacher Sara Peck, Anne has garnered 7 Gold Keys, 7 Silver Keys, a National Silver Key, and this Award.

3/17, Friday - Special LOTC - a field trip to the USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41) at Charleston's Union Pier, provides a window into how University School integrates field learning to teach our students to be active citizens. We believe the best way a school can teach students about the sacrifices soldiers make and have made in America's history is to take them to current military bases and significant historic sites so they can interact with soldiers, let them know they care, and see and learn for themselves.

3/20, Monday - Special Dinner for Parent Ambassadors and new families.

3/21, Tuesday - Special LOTC - several female MS & US students will take part in the Charleston Air Force Base's Women in Aviation program at Joint Base Charleston. It includes an exploration of the C-17, parts of the base, and information into career opportunities in the Air Force. It will be a neat connection for students who learned more about the Tuskegee Airmen on the Middle School trip to Alabama and Moton Field last month! A similar event was held for boys in February (Tuskegee Airmen Career Day).

3/23, Thursday - Wind Down at the University School Ladies Wine Night!The Auction Committee is hosting a Wine Night with Crushed Fine Wines to kick off the weeks leading up to our Annual Auction Celebration on Friday, May 5 at the School House at Albemarle. Come help support USL (buy some wine for the Auction and/or you) and taste some fine wines!

3/24, Friday – (A)There will be no school for a faculty in-service day from 9:00-noon. MS/US students will babysit for faculty members' children, and lunch will be provided by USL parents. (B)Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM.

3/29-4/3, Wednesday -Upper School students will fly to the Pacific Northwest to explore Seattle and Portland. Each year's US trip is distinct, and prior years have been to Texas, and Georgia. Students will visit the University of Washington, the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, the Space Needle, Museum of Pop Culture, the Suquamish Native American tribe, NPS sites for Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helen's, Reed College, Bainbridge Island, Pike Place Fish Market, the original Starbucks, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Voodoo Doughnuts, Portland Japanese Garden, and more. Each year's US trip is distinct, and prior years have been to Texas, and Georgia.

4/5, Wednesday –No LOTC but classes because of Friday's World Languages Day. The IS Quiz Bowl team will have practice, and the day will conclude with the preliminary rounds of the World Languages Day Quiz Bowl. Students compete in blended teams to answer teacher-created questions from the three main global languages that they learn, and the games are moderated with aplomb by Chelisa Elmore-Williams!

4/7, Friday - World Languages Day - USL will host guest speakers, performers, and musicians representing the countries and cultures of the three languages each student learns (Latin, Spanish, and Mandarin). The lunch of many food cultures is a highlight! Special activities run from 10 AM-2 PM, and the public is welcome.

4/14, Friday - We are friends with Sweetgrass Village Assisted Living Center on Mathis Ferry Road in Mount Pleasant. They attend all of our cultural events throughout the year, and we help them with special activities and their annual Easter Egg Hunt for their residents. Sweetgrass is holding this activity in the morning during our Spring Break, and it is always a fun and nice event. It was wonderful to have 15+ students and alums volunteer for a fun and meaningful time with others!

4/19, Wednesday - LOTC - MS & US students will explore the Black River in Andrews with guides and naturalists from Coastal Expeditions. IS TBD.

4/21, Friday - Community Potluck Dinner and All-School Talent Show (5:45 in the gym). Students should sign up with Mr. Medlock, and details about the dinner are forthcoming. ** Click here for last year's slideshow.

4/24, Monday - Open House for Interested Families - If you have a student in 3rd-12th grade who is smart, curious, and kind, University School of the Lowcountry could be an ideal place for them to learn and grow. We hope you'll join us on Monday, April 24 for refreshments, conversation, and a chance to learn more about University School of the Lowcountry. The event will begin at 6 p.m. at USL’s campus (690 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant), and interested families are welcome to drop by and learn more.

4/26, Wednesday - (A) classes because the LOTC is Friday. (B) The IS has classes in the AM and then will see the Earth Day documentary "Born in China" at the Towne Center movie complex (C) No Uniform Day (D) Special LOTC - several MS & US students will attend Dig South at the Gaillard Center

4/28, Friday – we will visit USMC Recruit Depot Parris Island for morning colors, a tour, lunch at the mess hall, and the graduation of a male and female battalion. In the afternoon, we'll explore one of America's newly-designated historic sites - The Reconstruction Era National Monument. Specifically, we'll be exploring the Penn Center about 12 miles from Parris Island. Students will have to be at USL by 5:15 AM so that the charter bus can leave at 5:30. We will be back at USL by 5 PM.

5/3, Wednesday – Spring Service Day - A group of students will lead second graders from Pinehurst Elementary (one of our Day of Caring partners) on our annual buddy-buddy trip to Bee City in Cottageville. Another group will help with some of the weekly responsibilities at the Lowcountry Food Bank.

5/4, Thursday – Special PM LOTC - Middle School students are participating in the SC Department of Natural Resources Spartina Grass Restoration project at Fort Johnson. This is an annual tradition led by Science Teacher Heather Connelly, and it includes growing our own Spartina grass from seed and transplanting it.

5/10, Wednesday -classes because of Eighth Grade Graduation on Thursday.

5/11, Thursday - Eighth Grade Graduation and Lunch - eighth graders will cook and serve lunch for their families, USL faculty, and the Middle School in appreciation for their support and their experience at University School. Seventh graders will serve as apprentices, and the event will include speeches delivered by the eighth graders in which they thank their families, teachers, and friends and a slideshow. This is a great event for parents, current and prospective, to attend and experience. One can attend just the speeches (about an hour, 11-noon) or the full slate of activities (lunch and the slideshow). Please just RSVP with Judy Hubbard in the USL office.

5/16, Tuesday –(A) HOSTED PERFORMANCE - University School will host the Mrudani School of Performing Arts for a performance at 10 AM in the gym. The dancers will perform and demonstrate Indian Classical Dance, both Kuchipudi and Bharathanatyam. It is appropriate for all ages and lasts about 50 minutes. Guests will include our friends from Windwood Farm Home for Boys, Christ Our King-Stella Maris School, Sweetgrass Assisted Living Village, Hibben UMC Preschool, Moultrie Middle School, Charleston-area homeschool families, and other groups from the community. (B) LOTC - PM - We will travel to the Naval Weapons Station to learn more about the US military's Pre-Positioned Stocks Afloat program. It involves maintaining ships in the world's oceans with heavy equipment that would be needed for an overseas deployment by America's armed forces. Students will explore the various vehicles and how the workers at this site keep them in working order.

5/17, Wednesday -classes because the LOTC was Tuesday.

5/19, Friday - (A) Special Upper School LOTC - Humanities teacher Craig Campbell will lead a 3-location exploration of the Revolutionary War in Charleston. Sites include Breach Inlet (Colonial defenses and British attacks), Fort Moultrie (Battle of Fort Sullivan and Carolina Day, and Marion Square (discussion of American defenses in 1780 British siege of Charleston). The exploration will conclude with lunch at a restaurant downtown. (B) Students & Mentors Activity - USL students and mentors will enjoy a movie, games, and food in the gym from 6:30-8:30 PM.

5/22, Monday - (A) Twelfth Grade Graduation - 9:30 AM. This is a great event for parents, current and prospective, to attend and experience. (B) We will thoroughly clean and organize the campus and rooms so that everything is in order for Hibben UMC for the summer.

5/23, Tuesday – Last day for students. This includes traditional activities such as distribution and signing of yearbooks, passing out of end-of-year t-shirts, walking the Vincent Drive loop, and watching slideshows of the year.

School Hours

The school day begins at 7:40 AM and ends at 2:55 for the Intermediate School and 3:10 for the Middle & Upper Schools. Students may be dropped off beginning at 7:20 AM (when adult supervision begins) until 7:40 AM. IS students may be picked up at 2:55, or they can wait (under supervision) for their ride during MS/US pick up. Supervised pick-up concludes at 3:20, and all remaining students will move to Extended Day. University School's Extended Day program offers care for students from the end of day up to 5:30. For more information about Extended Day, please click on the link.

Homework

Dress Code

Upper School :
- US students will wear their key card and USL magnetic name tag every day. Students can dress as students in college, but the attire should be nice and suitable for daily PE. For LOTCs or other special days, US students will wear formal or traditional LOTC attire (spelled out below).

General Guidelines:
- Bottoms - Students will wear khaki or navy shorts/skirts/skorts or pants. All skirts should be just above the knee or longer. Denim is not acceptable.
- Tops - Students will wear collared shirts (oxford or polo style) in solid colors with the University School logo. Cardigan, v-neck, and crew neck sweaters are permitted as long as the school logo is visible.
- Footwear - Because of the active nature of our days, students must wear shoes in which one can exercise. Athletic shoes (crosstraining/tennis/running etc.) that are appropriate for PE and for outdoor wear are required.

Outerwear :
Outerwear such as sweaters and sweatshirts worn over collared shirts are allowed only with no team names, slogans, logos, or messages other than those of University School. Only small breast-pocket logos are acceptable on outerwear. Here are the details about each form of outerwear:
(a) Jackets: Dark navy, no hood, full-zipper preferred, fleece (not sweatshirt material), can be found at Land’s End but not required to be from there, with USL logo.
(b) Coats: Dark navy is the recommended color for all outerwear. Heavy coats do not need a USL logo.
(c) Rainwear: Dark navy, poncho or coat, no USL logo required, umbrellas are not permitted on LOTCs.

For “Learning Outside the Classroom” days:
- For Formal LOTC days, students should be dressed in khaki bottoms and white USL-embroidered collared shirts. For Traditional LOTC days, students should be dressed in khaki bottoms and white USL t-shirts. Students may wear USL-embroidered hats only. Outerwear must be dark navy with the USL logo.

Additional Notes:
- Tops - Shirts can be untucked if the tail is not long
- Belts - Belts should be worn if there are loops
- Undershirts - If wearing an undershirt, it must be white and must remain tucked in at all time
- Leggings and Tights – Students may wear black, navy, or white solid color tights. Navy leggings are acceptable but the student must wear a shirt or top that reaches at least to their fingertips. Knee socks of a solid color may be worn, but patterns and stripes are not permitted. Natural color hose are also okay.

Embroidering:
There are two options for embroidering. Students can purchase them at Lands' End School (embroidery is an additional charge) or bring their own shirts to be embroidered at the embroidery store:

Lunch Provider

USL works with an optional food delivery program called Food for Thought. Students and faculty/staff may take part in the service any time you'd like.

FFT is a school lunch program with a focus is on fresh, local and organic meals, conscious of allergens and dietary needs. Food for Thought, a subsidiary of Dish & Design Catering, is located in Mt Pleasant. With a 24 hour minimum notice policy, Food for Thought provides ease and convenience for busy parents on the run. The large `a la carte menu offers lots of variety and allows parents to build a lunch desirable to their children's taste and/or needs. There is no minimum order requirement, and lunches are delivered free of charge to University School. Each lunch box is labeled with the student's name and contents of the order. There is a three checkpoint process to make sure that no lunch is left behind and guarantees every child will receive their lunch. With an easy to use website, parents can go online and order as they prefer, whether it's month to month, week to week or 24 hours before the lunch is due. Payments are made online and charge to a credit card. Parents may pay for their order one of two ways: either by paying lunch to lunch or by depositing money into a personal online account that they may draw from and replenish as needed.